Chef to the Stars to Open Vegan Deli in Florida

Vegan chef Mary Mattern—who served as the touring chef for popular band blink-182, Ellie Goulding, and other celebrities—plans to open vegan eatery Heirloom Deli in Orlando, FL this April. The New Jersey-born chef recently moved to Florida to live with her fiancé Neil Westfall—a guitarist for the pop-punk band A Day to Remember (ADTR). Heirloom Deli will be the incarnation of Mattern and Westfall’s longtime dream of opening a vegan eatery. “I grew up in one of the largest Hasidic Jewish communities in the United States,” Mattern told VegNews, “so going to Jewish delis for breakfast on Sunday morning and lunch midweek is a huge part of my childhood. The concept of being able to grab a sandwich and a couple different sides was always so appealing to me. Looking through a deli case and seeing all the options. I want to create that in Orlando using plants.” Heirloom Deli will serve a variety of Mthe couple’s childhood favorites—made with vegan meats, cheeses, and produce sourced from local companies—including Shiitake Mushroom Po’boy with Remoulade, Hearts of Palm Crab Cake Sandwich with Lemon Dill, and Meatball Parm Subs, along with sides such as eggplant fries and potato salad. “We want to show people you can have the convenience of grabbing food quickly and still eat plant-based,” Mattern said, adding, “and it doesn’t have to just be a salad.” Mattern—who is also the founder of Nom Yourself, a blog and a vegan cookbook of the same name—is currently finishing her second vegan cookbook.